ROGERS INNOVATION REPORT: HOW TECHNOLOGY USERS CONNECT TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Rogers has released new results of its Rogers Innovation Report that regularly explores Canadians’ habits and views on technology. The latest Report focuses on how technology users connect to family and friends and includes a survey that shows six in 10 (58%) Canadians cannot imagine life without the modern conveniences of texting, e-mail and social networking, while nearly four in 10 (39%) feel that staying connected with loved ones is equally as important as eating and sleeping. Among other findings, the Report reveals that women have a much stronger tendency than men to use technology as a tool for keeping close to those they care about. And while young adults continue to rely heavily on newer technologies like texting to connect with friends and family, they still recognize situations when a traditional phone call is appropriate. More findings from the Report are available at: http://redboard.rogers.com/2012/rogers-innovation-report-technology-and-relationships-utm_sourcesocialutm_mediumredboardutm_contentmirandautm_campaignrir/.

According to the new Cisco Visual Networking Index (VNI) Global Mobile Data Traffic Forecast for 2011 to 2016, worldwide mobile data traffic will increase 18-fold over the next five years, reaching 10.8 exabytes per month – or an annual run rate of 130 exabytes – by 2016. Cisco reports that the expected sharp increase in mobile traffic is due, in part, to a projected surge in the number of mobile Internet-connected devices, which will exceed the number of people on earth. During 2011-2016, Cisco anticipates that global mobile data traffic will outgrow global fixed data traffic by three times. The full report is available at: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/solutions/collateral/ns341/ns525/ns537/ns705/ns827/white_paper_c11-520862.html.

SONY COMPLETES FULL ACQUISITION OF SONY ERICSSON

Sony has announced that the transaction to acquire Ericsson’s 50% stake in Sony Ericsson has been completed as of February 15, 2012. This marks the completion of the transaction jointly announced by Sony and Ericsson on October 27, 2011, and makes Sony Ericsson a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony. Sony will rename Sony Ericsson “Sony Mobile Communications”, and further integrate the mobile phone business as an element of its electronics business, with the aim of accelerating convergence between Sony’s network-enabled consumer electronics products, including smart phones, tablets, TVs and PCs.

CRTC ANNOUNCES 9-1-1 TEXT MESSAGING TRIAL

The CRTC has announced a three-month trial that will allow 9-1-1 call centres to communicate by text message with pre-registered participants with hearing and speech impairments. The trial will involve participants in Vancouver, Toronto, Peel Region and Montreal, and is expected to begin shortly. During the trial, pre-registered participants will make test 9-1-1 calls. The 9-1-1 call centres will be notified at the start of the test calls that the caller has registered for the trial, and the call centre will then respond by text message. Information from this trial will be used to prepare a report regarding the feasibility of rolling out such a program on a national basis.

SASKTEL AWARDS 22 SCHOLARSHIPS TO SASKATCHEWAN STUDENTS

SaskTel has announced it awarded 22 scholarships in 2011 to Saskatchewan students pursuing post-secondary education in a field directly related to telecommunications. The scholarships, totaling close to $50,000, were awarded as part of three separate scholarship programs: the SaskTel Scholarship; the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT) Scholarship; and the SaskTel Métis Scholarship. Information about SaskTel’s 2012 scholarship program, including application deadlines, is available at: http://www.sasktel.com/about-us/community-involvement/scholarships-bursaries/index.html.

MOBILICITY Q4 SUBSCRIBERS

BELL OBTAINS NAMING RIGHTS TO NEW AMPHITHEATRE IN LAVAL

Bell has announced it has obtained the naming rights for the new amphitheatre in the sports and cultural complex in Laval, Québec. The venue will now be called Place Bell. The agreement between Bell and evenko, the company responsible for managing and programming events at the amphitheatre, will enable Bell to offer the public a compelling entertainment experience using fibre-based Bell Fibe technology throughout the venue.

MOBILE GIVING IN ACTION: VARIETY – THE CHILDREN’S CHARITY OF BC

Variety – The Children’s Charity of BC disburses much-needed funding to children with special needs and their families throughout BC through individual grants and the Emergency Response Fund. Every year, Variety disburses over 1,300 grants for medical emergencies, therapies, specialized equipment, drug prescriptions and out-of-town accommodation and travel costs. Variety also provides grants to children’s organizations for construction, renovations, equipment and program costs. Cell phone users can help support Variety by texting KIDS to 45678 to donate $10. Visit http://www.variety.bc.ca for more information. For more information about Canada’s mobile channel for charitable giving, visit the Mobile Giving Foundation Canada at: http://www.mobilegiving.ca.

CANADIAN TELECOM SUMMIT – JUNE 4-6

Now in its 11th year, the Canadian Telecom Summit will be held in Toronto from June 4 to 6, 2012. Leaders of Canada’s telecom, broadcast and IT industries will converge at the Toronto Congress Centre to discuss the key issues and trends that will impact this critical sector of the economy. More than 500 suppliers, policy makers, regulators and customers attend the annual event that features a full schedule of top-level keynote speakers and thought-provoking panel discussions. The deadline for Early Bird registration pricing is February 29. Information and registration: http://www.telecomsummit.com.